Appointment of HSE Director, Infrastructure Organisation

At a Glance

• Sector – Infrastructure
• Location – Sydney, NSW
• Workforce – 1,900 employees
• Service – HSE Recruitment – Executive Search
• Engagement – Retained Search

The Challenge

An infrastructure organisation with 1,900 employees across major project delivery had an HSE Director whose experience predated recent regulatory shifts, particularly psychosocial hazard obligations now a specific legal focus in NSW and Victoria, a gap that only became visible during an external compliance review.

Our Approach

Civitas screened specifically for currency on recent WHS regulatory change, not just historical safety leadership tenure, given the compliance review had already identified this as the core issue rather than a hypothetical risk.

The Solution

The appointed HSE Director had led psychosocial risk programs at two prior infrastructure employers, allowing an immediate start on remediation rather than a learning curve.

Measured Impact

• Psychosocial risk management framework implemented within the first 6 months
• Compliance review findings fully addressed ahead of the regulator’s follow-up timeline
• Safety leadership bench strengthened across project sites
• No further compliance findings recorded in the following audit cycle

Client Reflection

We needed someone who was already living the current regulatory reality, not catching up to it. 

Why This Matters

Regulatory currency, not raw safety leadership experience, is increasingly the deciding factor in HSE Director searches, this appointment is a direct illustration of why Civitas screens for recent regulatory exposure specifically rather than treating tenure as a sufficient proxy.

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